Railway dump car



c. P. ASTROM RAILWAY DUMP CAR Filed Aug. 8, 1942 Oct. 3, 1944.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVl ENTOR CARI. R AsTRaM 444444..

ATTORNEY Maw 3, 4' c. P. ASTROM 4 2,359,602

RAILWAY DUMP CAR 4 Filed Aug. 8, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Q I v t r Q Q R INVENTOR R k CARL RA$TR0M Q & & ATTORNEY Oct. 3, 1944. c. P. ASTROM 2,359,602

RAILWAY DUMP c AR r Filed Aug. 8, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 "1W, lull-J "I'll-1,111,111,,1,111,111 A IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII"!" INVENTOR CARL 4577mm BY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1944 RAILWAY DUMP CAR Carl P. Astrom, East Orange, N. J., assignor to M. H. Treadwell Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 8, 1942, Serial No..454,117

. 7 Claims.

The invention relates to railway cars havin tilting containers, such as twin. pot cinder cars and; the like, and, more particularly to latching mechanism for holding. the containers against tilting, and for releasing them for tilting.

In my prior Patent No.-. 1,613,153, and in my copending: application, Serial No. 454,116, filed August 8, 1942, there are shown dumping cars having, tilting containers of a type to which my present invention is applicable. It is one of the objects of my invention. to provide an improved tilting container car of this type and, more particularly, one which has a latching mechanism for the containers that is simple in construction and easy to operate under load.

Tilting. container cars used in steel plants for handling molten slag and: cinder from furnace. to dumpconsistof a railway car underframe on which are carried ladles or pots slung in bails, the bails having power driven means arranged to tilt the pots to one side of the car or the other as may be desired. The pots, orthe bails which carry them, havetrunnions which support them on suitable frames. for tilting movement about the trunnion axis. Normally the potsv are held in a vertical position. When the center of gravity of the loaded potis above the horizontal plane. of the trunnion axis, there exists a. torque producing a. turning moment. on the pot about this axis, the direction of which dependson whether the center of: gravity is to one side or the. other of the vertical plane of the axis. This turning moment. is; resisted. by the mechanism used for. tilting the. ladle or by the safety latch, or both; When it is. resisted by the safety latch, the operation of the latch; becomes difiicult, and the jamming: action of the. pot, or its supporting bail, against the latch; atztimes. may be such as to make it impossible to release the latch for dumping the pot. It is also possible for the pot to become jammed: between the opposing forces or reactions; of the operating. mechanism and the latch, in which case a similar difliculty will be encountered when it is attempted to. release the latch. It is. an object of. my invention. to provide latching means for cars of: the class'd'escribed which. overcomes the operating difli'culties encountered under any of. the conditions above-described.

Another object of the invention is to provide latching mechanism of the class described which is adapted; for two-wayoperation, that: is, for releasing the container for tilting in either direction; also, which operates; efiectively under initial turning; moments tending to; tilt the container either in the desired direction or in a direction opposed thereto.

Another object is toprovide latching mechanism having reversible parts so that itcan be arranged for operation from either side of the car; also, which is. operable from a position in which the operator is safely removed from the tilting container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, which illustrate the application of my invention to; a twinpot cinder car, Fig.1 is a side elevationalview of the car, and Fig; 2 an end elevational. view thereof, showing the mechanism for tilting the pots.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line- 3:--3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4, 5 and Gare detail. views of the latching mechanism, Fig. 4 being a transverse sectional View taken as indicated at 4--4 in Fig. 1, and Figs. 5 and 6 being a. top view and side elevationalview, respectively, of the operating handle. (=Fig. 5 is taken as indicated at 5-5 in Fig. 4.)

The railway car which has been selected for the purpose of illustrating a specific embodiment of the invention consists, in its general arrangement, of an underframe I carried by trucks 2 of any suitable construction well known in the art, tilting containers orpots 3 resting in bails 4 provided with trunnions 5- by which the containers are supported on tracksv 6 extending transversely of the car and mounted on suitable supporting framework 1,-8, 9, and power driven operating means [0 for tilting thecOntainers and moving them laterally of the car by rolling the trunnions 5 along the tracks 6. The bails 4 are joined by a universal coupling ll so that the operating mechanism l0 actuates both of the containers 3'.

In their limiting position, the containers 3 engage the underframe of the car or stop members I2 thereon. Ifdesired, the containers may be provided with stops orbumpers l3 for engagement with the aforesaid stop members 12 on the underframe.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the power driven operating means indicated generally at IU com prises a driven screw member l4 and cooperating nut l5 secured to a bearing member l9 rotatably mounted in the trunnion 5 of the bail 4. A gear sector I6 is keyed to the trunnion 5 and is arranged for engagement with a transversely extending rack I! mounted on the frame member 9;. If desired, the rack I! may be formed in- .tegrally with the track 5'.

receive the bifurcated ends 26 of the bearing 1 member l9. Pins 21 passing through apertures in the nut I5 and bifurcated ends 26 of the bearing member secure the nut and bearing rnernber together.

The track 6 adjacent the rack I1 is provided with upwardly curving ends 28 which limit movement of the trunnion 5 transversely of the car. A complementary upper track member 29 with downwardly curving ends 30 secured to the upwardly curving ends 28 of the track 6'engages the, upper side of the trunnion 5. Normallmthe gear I6 is held in engagement with the rack H by the, weight of the container 3 (and its contents). I-Iowever, the provision of the upper trackmember 291 insures that the gear and rack will be held in proper engagement under all conditions of operation. A flange 3| strengthens the rack 29 against bending.

, Any suitable drive means may beprovided for the screw member 14. In the construction shown, a motor 32 mounted on the underframe in any convenient manner has a pinion 33 meshing with a gear 34 keyed to a shaft 35 journaled in bearings on the frame 9 to the other end of which shaft is fixed a pinion 36 meshing with a gear 3! keyed to a shaft 31 in line with the screw I4 and connected thereto through a universal joint 38.

In accordance with 'my invention, the containers arev locked in their vertical position not only by the screw I4, but also by the latch mechanism which will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings. The latch mechanism comprises, in its general arrangement, a latch or pair of latches 49 arranged for engagement with the tilting container, or with a member which is fixed with respect to the container, such as the ball 5 or lugs 4| fixed thereto, an operating member for the latches such as the handle 42, the latches and handle being resiliently connected through an eccentric cam 43' and a pair of telescoping link members 44, 45 having spring means or other resilient means which permit selective setting of the handle 42 for open or closed position of the latches prior to actual release or locking thereof so that the latch will be self-actuated upon tilting of the container. There are thus provided latch means for holding the container against tilting, means for resiliently applying a force to the latch (or latches) tending to release it while'it is restrained by the container against actual'release.

In the specific embodiment illustrated, the bail 4 of one of the containers 3 is provided adjacent one of its trunnions5 with a downwardly extending flange46 ,on which are formed the aforesaid lugs 4|. The flange 46 may conveniently be formed as an extension of the flange 24 of the trunnion 5 as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The latches 46 are pivotally mounted on the frame 9, asby means of bolts 41. Each latch is provided with, an arm or pair of arms 48 to one of which is pivotally secured the aforesaid link member 45. In the construction shown, the upper arm 48 of the left-hand link 4|] (Fig. 4) is connected to the lower arm 49 of the right-hand latch by a pair of links 49 or by a link having bifurcated ends, as

may be desired. The link 45 is in the form of a tubular member (Fig. 6) provided with abifurcated end 56 arranged to receive the links 49 which, together with the bifurcated end 50 and arm 46, are apertured to receive a connecting pin 5|. A connecting pin 52 pivotally secures the other ends of the links 49 to the upper arm 48 of the other latch. V

In my preferred construction, the operating member 42 comprises a rod or shaft 53 (Figs. 1

and 5) journaled'in the frame 9, the shaft 53 being of considerable length so that the handle 42 is located at the end of the car in a position in which the operator is safely removed from the tilting containers. Keyed to the other end of the shaft 53, as at 54, is the eccentric cam 43 previously referred to, engaged by a strap 56 fixed to the aforesaid link member 44. Annular plates 51 overlying the strap 56 and a portion of the eccentric cam 43 may be riveted or otherwise secured to the strap 56, as at 58, to hold the eccentric and strap in operatingengagement.

Link member 45, which, as previously stated, is of tubular form, is provided with a circumferential shoulder 59 dividing its interior into two compartments with an opening 55 therebetween. Link member 44 extends through the end of the member 45 and the opening 55. Compression springs 60 and 6| surround the link member 44 and are disposed in the respective chambers of the member 45. The spring 60 bears at one end against the shoulder 59, and at the other end against a nut and lock nut 62. Spring 6| bears at one end against the shoulder 59, and at the other end against a collar 63 secured to the member 44. The springs 60 and BI are arranged to resist lengthening and shortening of the resilient connection provided by the. telescoping or slidably-arranged link members 44, 45.

When the tilting containers are locked in their normal upright positions, as when the car is in motion, the handle 42 occupies the position shown in the Figs. 4, 5 and 6. When it is desired to tilt the containers for unloading, the handle is moved in the direction of the arrow a ('Fig. 6)'

the pot, or its supporting bail, against one of the latches, the latches remain in the position shown in Fig. 4 during movement of the handle through from the position illustrated. This action results in compression of the spring 6|. The motor 32 then is started in a direction to produce tilting of the container in the direction which will release the latch that is jammed. At the moment of such release, the spring 6| extends, pushing the link member 45 to. the left and releasing both of the latches.

may be in the desired direction of tilting, or may be in the opposite direction. If the latter, the motor 32 is reversed at the moment that the latches are released. It will be understood from the preceding description that I have provided means for setting the latches when they are restrained by the container, for automatic'release of the latches when the restraint is removed by operation of the container-actuating means.

At any time after 'the containers have been The initial. movement of the containers to free the latches tilted beyond the point of engagement of the latches with the lugs 4| on the hail, the latch operating handle 42 may be returned to the locked position shown in the drawings. This moves the latches into the position shown in Fig. 4 and compresses the spring 50 to a certain extent. Thereafter, when the containers are moved back into vertical position, the inclined surface 64 of one of the lugs 4| engages the inclined surface 65 of the corresponding latch member, further compresing the spring 60, which permits the latch to snap over the lug 4| to lock the container in vertical position.

A bracket 66 secured to the frame 9 i provided with flanges B1, 68 serving as stops to limit movement of the handle 42 in its open and closed' (unlocking and locking) positions. These stops are so arranged as to arrest movement of the handle at points which bring it substantially in line with the links 44, 45 so that the eccentric cam 43 will be brought to a position at, or slight 1y beyond, dead-center. at either end of its movement.

From the description which has preceded, it will be understood that I have provided means for selectively setting the latch for open or closed position prior to actual release or locking thereof, so that the latch will be self-actuated upon tilting of the container.

In my preferred construction, there is provided a bracket 69 corresponding to the bracket 66 at the other side of the car. This permits arrangement of the operating handle 42 on the other side of the car, in view of the provision of the second pair of arms 48 on the latches. The connection of the links 49 to the arms 48 may be reversed so that the latch-operating linkage is arranged on the axis shown by the broken line b in Fig. 4. In the operation of tilting the containers from the position shown in full lines at 3 (Fig. 2) to the position shown in broken lines at 3'--assuming that the latches have been released in the manner previousl described-the motor 32 is operated in a direction to produce clockwise rotation of gear 3'! as viewed in Fig. 1. This pulls the nut I5 to the right as viewed in Fig. 2, rotating the bail 4 and at the same time moving it laterally a the gear moves along the rack 11. Rotation of the bail 4 of the container adjacent the operating mechanism also serves to rotate bail 4 of the other container through the universal joint II Fig. 1). The gear It at the opposite end of the car likewise travels over the rack I! under this rotative action, producing uniform tilting of both containers.

The operation of the car for tilting containers 3 in the opposite direction from that shown at 3 in Fig. 2 is the same as described above, except that the motor is reversed.

The invention may be utilized in conjunction with tilting container cars of other constructions than that which I have specifically shown and described, and in conjunction with power operating means of other forms. It will be understood that it is applicable to cars having any desired number of tilting containers, or to a car having a single tilting container. The terms and expressions which I have employed are used in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, and I have no intention of excluding such equivalents of the Thus, the handle locks invention described, or of portions thereof, as fall within the purview of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car having a tilting container, a latch arranged for engagement with a member fixed with respect to the container for holding the container against tilting, and an operating member for the latch, the operating member being spring-connected to the latch and arranged so that the operating member is selectively movable into latch-opening or latch-closing position by stressing of the spring connection prior to actual release or locking of the tilting container by the latch so that the latch will be self-actuated upon rocking of the container to and from its normal upright position.

2. In a latch mechanism for tilting dump car containers, a latch arranged for engagement with a member fixed with respect to the container, and an operating handle for the latch, the operating handle being spring-connected to the latch and movable into latch unlocking position'by stressing of the spring connection when the latch is restrained in locking position by said first-named member.

3. In a latch mechanism for tilting dump car containers, a latch arranged for engagement with a member fixed with respect to the container, and an operating handle for the latch, the operating handle being resiliently connected to the latch through an eccentric cam and movable into unlocking position by stressing of the resilient connection when the latch is restrained in locking position by said first-named member.

4. In a latch mechanism for tilting dump car containers, a latch arranged for engagement with a member fixed with respect to the container, and an operating handle for the latch, the operating handle being resiliently connected to the latch through telescoping members having a spring resisting lengthening of said resilient connection.

5. In a, latch mechanism for tilting dump car containers, a latch arranged for engagement with a member fixed with respect to the container, and an operating handle for the latch, the operating handle being resiliently connected to the latch through telescoping members having springs resisting lengthening and shortening of said resilient connection.

6. In a latch mechanism for tilting dump car containers, a latch arranged for engagement with a member fixed with respect to the container,

and an operating handle for the latch, the operating handle being resiliently connected to the latch through an eccentric cam and a link comprising two members movable longitudinally relative to one another and springs resisting said longitudinal movement.

7. In a latch mechanism for tilting dump car containers, a latch arranged for engagement with a member fixed with respect to the container, an operating handle for the latch, a pair of telescoping link members one of which is connected to the latch and the other of which is connected operatively to the handle, one of said link members slidably arranged within the other, and spring means resisting said slidable movement.

CARL P. ASTROM. 

